Judge begins deliberations in a bench trial against a Columbia man accused of plotting to kill ex-wife

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been corrected to say a charge related to a plot against a judge was dropped.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Special Judge Steven Ohmer began his deliberations in the bench trail against Columbia businessman Mehrdad Fotoohighiam who is accused of plotting to kill his now ex-wife and had been accused of plotting to kill Boone County Judge Jeff Harris.

Fotoohighiam is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree attempted assault, tampering with a witness in a felony prosecution and attempting to tamper with a witness in a felony prosecution.

Fotoohighiam had previously been acquitted by a jury for allegedly paying two men $500 each to set his neighbor Marcia Green's home on fire, who he had a property dispute with.

Green was inside the home at the time of the fire was and significantly hurt.

After the acquittal, Fotoohighiam was ordered to pay $3 million dollars in a lawsuit filed after the fire.

When Fotoohighiam was arrested on suspicion of arson in 2015 he posted a $5 million bond that came will conditions not allowing him to have contact with his family.

Judge Harris ordered Fotoohighiam back in jail, after asking a third party to contact his ex-wife about his medication, which was a violation of his release.

The Boone County Sheriff's Department accused Fotoohighiam of plotting to kill Judge Harris and his wife with two other inmates while he was in jail.

The bench trial began Monday with closing arguments wrapping up Wednesday.

Special Judge Steven Ohmer is set to reconvene Thursday at 9 a.m.

The charges against Fotoohighiam were amended in March, dropping the charge of conspiring to kill the judge.